Arrival brief · La Paz LPB
LPB Arrival Guide: El Alto Airport to La Paz, Without the Traps
El Alto is the world's highest major airport — the arrival's real challenge is the altitude, and the one rule is to use an official or radio taxi, never a street cab. Take it slow and go straight to your hotel.
2026-08-25
What to expect after landing
El Alto International (LPB) is the world’s highest major airport (~4,000m), up on the plateau above La Paz — the arrival’s real challenge is the altitude, and the one safety rule is to use an official or radio taxi, never a street cab. Move slowly from the moment you land, use the official taxi desk, a hotel-arranged radio taxi, or a pre-booked transfer down into the city (~30–45 min), and go straight to your hotel to rest.
Option 1 — Official / radio taxi or transfer
Use the official airport taxi from the marked desk, a radio taxi (a proper company cab, ideally hotel-arranged), or a pre-booked hotel transfer — never an unofficial curb cab. A booked transfer (a named driver) is the calmest, especially with the altitude. Confirm the fare or use the fixed/booked option.
Respect the altitude
At ~4,000m at the airport and ~3,600m in the city, soroche (altitude sickness) is common on arrival — move slowly, don’t rush your bags, hydrate, skip alcohol and heavy food at first, and take a very gentle first day. If you’ve come from low altitude, build in acclimatisation before trekking.
What it looks like
LPB’s two things to get right are unusual: the altitude (the highest major airport on earth — go slow) and the taxi (official/radio/booked only, never a street cab, because unofficial taxis are the express-robbery vector). Sort both — a calm, slow arrival and a proper company car — and the descent into La Paz is safe and unforgettable.
Do this instead
Move slowly for the altitude from the moment you land; use the official taxi desk, a hotel-arranged radio taxi, or a pre-booked transfer — never an unofficial curb cab; keep valuables discreet; and go straight down to your hotel to rest. That’s the whole LPB arrival, into a breathtaking Andean city.
Late-night arrivals
A pre-arranged transfer or official/radio taxi is strongly preferred late, given both the unofficial-cab robbery risk and the altitude fatigue. Book before you fly, save your hotel’s address offline, keep valuables discreet, and go straight to your hotel — not with anyone who approached you in the hall. Rest on arrival.
Quick answers
What's the best way from El Alto airport to La Paz?
Use the official airport taxi from the marked desk, or a radio taxi (a proper company cab, ideally arranged by your hotel), or a pre-booked hotel transfer — never an unofficial street cab. The airport is up on the El Alto plateau (~4,000m) and the city sits in the bowl below, so it's a 30–45 minute descent to most hotels. A pre-arranged transfer is the calmest option, especially since you may be feeling the altitude on arrival. Confirm the fare or use the official/booked option, and go straight to your hotel.
Why does the taxi matter so much at La Paz airport?
Because unofficial taxis in Bolivia are the main vehicle for express robbery ('secuestro exprés'), where a passenger is driven around and forced to hand over valuables and withdraw cash at ATMs. From the airport, this risk is removed by using the official airport taxi desk, a hotel-arranged radio taxi, or a pre-booked transfer — a proper company car with identification, not a random cab from the curb. Don't accept a ride from someone who approaches you, don't share with strangers the driver picks up, and keep valuables discreet. It's the single most important arrival habit here.
How high is El Alto airport, and how do I handle the altitude?
El Alto International is the highest major international airport in the world, at roughly 4,000m (13,000ft), and La Paz's centre is around 3,600m — high enough that altitude sickness (soroche) is common and can hit on arrival. Move slowly from the moment you land, don't rush with your luggage, drink water, avoid alcohol and heavy food at first, and take it very easy on your first day. Coca tea helps locally. If you've flown in from low altitude, build in acclimatisation before any trekking. This is the real challenge of arriving at LPB — plan a gentle first day.
What if I land at La Paz late at night?
A pre-arranged hotel transfer or an official/radio taxi is strongly preferred for a late arrival, given both the express-robbery risk with unofficial cabs and the fact you may be tired and feeling the altitude. Arrange the pickup before you fly, have your hotel's address and phone saved offline, keep valuables discreet, and go straight down to your hotel. Don't take a ride from anyone approaching you in the hall, and take the altitude gently even when tired — rest on arrival.